CAUSE OF CHARIOT FIRE STILL A MYSTERY

The Shriners declined to give details of what their investigation has uncovered.

Causes of wildland fires are often obvious and quickly determined. However, in many instances, how a fire starts can remain a mystery forever.

In Cal Fire’s jurisdiction last year there were 2,922 fires statewide. In more than one-quarter of the cases — 780 — the official cause was listed as “undetermined,” according to Cal Fire statistics.

One of the most destructive fires in San Diego County was the 1996 Harmony fire that destroyed more than 100 homes in Harmony Grove, Elfin Forest and La Costa. Investigators determined the fire began off Harmony Grove Road, west of Escondido. and narrowed down the possible causes to arson, carbon from a car’s exhaust, or discarded smoking materials. But officially the cause was never determined and blame was never assessed.